Northwood Pointe
Northwood Pointe is an upscale companion neighborhood to the Northwood village of Irvine east of the 5 freeway. Much like many of the newer developments in the city, it is built on what used to be agricultural land that was re-zoned for residential expansion in the late 90s.
Northwood Point is commonly defined as the area inside of the triangle created by Culver Dr (on the north end), Portola Pkwy (on the east end), and Hicks Canyon Trail (on the west end). It is one of the smaller sections of the city at only 1.06 square miles of total area, yet is one of the most densely populated with 3,000 more people per square mile than the Irvine average.
This tract is known for it’s lower than average Mello-Roos and low association fees ($150/month). A good deal of the properties in this area have nearly doubled in value since their initial sale in the late 90s/early 2000s, making this one of the most profitable neighborhoods for homeowners in all of Orange County.
Average home prices tend to be significantly higher than the rest of the city at $1.9M and the median household income is well above the overall Irvine average at $120K yearly. Simply put, this is a chic, pricey neighborhood geared towards high-income individuals and families.
Taking the time to research each neighborhood is this city is a must before deciding on which part of this highly desirable segment of the OC to live in. Because the neighborhoods in Irvine can seem similar, it’s imperative to understand the pertinent facts and differences about each so that you can fulfill your priority list and make necessary distinctions when committing to your next home purchase here.
Northwood Pointe is one of the more exclusive, gated communities in all of Irvine and the current single family home listings reflect this fact.
However, attached unit prices (condo and townhomes) tend to be more reasonable and in-line with other parts of the town. On the low-end, you can purchase a 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,250 square foot condo for just north of $350K. A 1,700 square foot unit with 3 beds and 2.5 baths will run you closer to $700K on the more expensive end – still an affordable option.
Single family properties, on the other hand, are significantly more varied along their pricing scale. Less expensive stand-alones can be had starting at $600K for a 1,200 square foot layout with 2 beds and 2.5 baths on a 1,900 square foot lot with a sliver of yard space. On the other end of the spectrum, which makes up a high percentage of the unattached homes available, prices peak at just over $2.7M for a 6 bed, 6bath, 5,300 square foot estate on a quarter acre of land.
While this locale is affordable for some, it is definitely top-heavy with more costly, larger properties, so if you’re single, not yet established professionally, or looking for a starter home, Northwood Pointe might not be the neighborhood for you. If any of these is the case, then less expensive, older communities like El Camino Real or Woodbridge might be a more appropriate choice.
The Irvine Unified School District is one of the top school districts in the country as evidence of the schools not only in Northwood Point, but all over the city.
Young children (grades K through 6) living in this area will attend Canyon View Elementary school – one of the newer schools in this district that rates an exceptional 10 out of 10 on Greatschool.org and scores a nearly unparalleled 957 California API (Academic Performance Index). This puts it firmly in the top 5% of all elementary schools in the entire state.
Older kids going into 7th and 8th grade will find themselves in class at Sierra Vista Middle School. Sierra Vista ranks equally well as Canyon View with a 10 out of 10 on Greatschools.org and an even more impressive 964 API – one of the highest in Irvine and all of CA.
Teenagers will have the benefit of going to what is considered one of the very best high schools in the state – Northwood High School. It also reaches the awesome 10 out of 10 level on Greatschools.org and has fantastic CA API of 921.
Northwood Pointe is in the fortunate position of being close to 4 major travel corridors – the 5 freeway, the 261 toll road, the 241 toll road, and the 133 toll road. Utilizing any of these routes allows residents almost unfettered travel to all corners of the county.
There are also 3 neighborhood shopping centers a stones-throw from the borders of Northwood:
Each houses a variety of restaurants and retail stores with every product an Irvine homeowner could possibly require, including:
Dining and entertainment were well-planned for this area. A short 5 to 10 minute drive around Irvine will get you to 1 of 5 different theaters, various bars and lounges, and so much great food that you’ll have a hard time deciding what to eat regularly.
There are also 2 great neighborhood parks – the large, central Meadow Wood Park and the smaller, kid-oriented, Trailwood Park. Meadow Wood is well known for its “Spinning Umbrella” jungle gym that kids from all over Orange County come to play on.
Are you looking for a luxury lifestyle behind the exclusive gates of a sophisticated housing development? Then Northwood Pointe is definitely one of the best choices in all of Irvine for you. Entry is costly, but once you’re there, expect your home value to hold and even appreciate over time, making a purchase here a savvy investment.
Amenities are akin to the rest of Irvine – well-proportioned for the area with everything anybody could ever ask for and everything you might ever crave to eat. There’s plenty of recreation and entertainment, but if there’s still not enough for your particular tastes, then there’s 4 quick routes for escape to the rest of the county.
There is nary a better school anywhere else in the state, so your children will be well taken care of and there are great parks a skateboard’s ride away from most resident’s driveways.
Northwood Pointe, while not for everybody, is one of those great neighborhoods that most families aspire to. If you want the best that Irvine has to offer, then consider areas like this as well as Quail Hill and Turtle Rock when making your move up to the next level in your home buying journey.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
My name is David Feldberg and I’m a homeowner and and real estate broker of 20 years; and I, just like everyone else, like to know “what did that home go for”? It’s a… Read more
Welcome to our August newsletter, where we’ll explore residential real estate trends in Orange County and across the nation. This month, we examine the state of the U.… Read more
Good credit matters most times, but will it effect your homeowners insurance rates? We sat down with State Farm Agent, John Kerkes and hear what he has to say about th… Read more
My favorite subject in school was always history and now that I am an adult nothing has changed. I love old photos of all the great landmarks in Newport Beach with som… Read more
We talk to a lot of buyers looking for homes in the Back Bay, and one of the biggest decisions home shoppers have in this area is whether the Eastbluff neighborhood or… Read more
Recently I asked 24 of real estate’s greatest minds to answer a question on the best way to increase your home’s value for $5,000 or less. I was blown away with the qu… Read more
Real estate has always been a passion for David Feldberg. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Sociology and is also an involved alu… Read more
Should you get a home inspection when you are buying a home? The answer is a resounding YES! When buying a home you never know what is going on behind the walls, in th… Read more
Orange County is famous for so many places and things to do. Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Disney California Adventure, and so much more. These destinations are gr… Read more
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.